Petunia plant named &#39;DAMORFIEST&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DAMORFIEST’ is disclosed, characterized by a mounded growth habit and flowers uniquely colored burgundy with yellow stripes. The plants are very well branched with a medium vigor. Light intensity and weather conditions can influence the width of the stripes, creating shapes resembling hearts. The flowers are large and plants flower abundantly. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DAMORFIEST’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia hybrida cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petunia varieties for ornamental purposes. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during December of 2013.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Petunia ‘cv. 12-6744’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Petunia ‘cv. 12-6247’. The new variety was discovered in July of 2014 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2013 crossing, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ was first performed by terminal vegetative cuttings during July of 2014, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DAMORFIEST’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DAMORFIEST’ as a new and distinct Petunia cultivar:

-   -   1. Mounded growth habit.     -   2. Very well branched plant with medium vigor.     -   3. Flower color is burgundy with yellow stripes (light intensity         and weather conditions can influence the width of the stripes,         creating shapes resembling hearts).     -   4. Flower size is large.     -   5. Abundant flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Petunia ‘cv. 12-6744’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a mounded growth habit, the seed parent         has a semi upright growth habit.     -   2. The new variety is less compact, with more branches than the         seed parent.     -   3. Flower color of the parent is yellow, the new variety is         burgundy and yellow.     -   4. Flower size of the new variety is large, flower size of the         seed parent is medium.     -   5. The new variety flowers more abundantly than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Petunia ‘cv. 12-6247’ in most horticultural characteristics however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a mounded growth habit, the pollen parent         has a semi-trailing growth habit.     -   2. The new variety is not as vigorous as the pollen parent.     -   3. Flower color of the pollen parent is burgundy with white         stripes, the new variety is burgundy with yellow stripes.     -   4. Flower size of the new variety is large, flower size of the         pollen parent is medium.     -   5. The new variety flowers more abundantly than the pollen         parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety ‘Dancas305’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DAMORFIEST’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of the comparator is smaller than the flower of         the new variety.     -   2. Flower color of the comparator is purple with white stripes,         while the new variety has burgundy flowers with yellow stripes.     -   3. Plant habit of the comparator is semi-trailing, while the new         variety has a mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAMORFIEST’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Petunia ‘DRAY67’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,906. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DAMORFIEST’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Comparator flower size is smaller than the flower of the new         variety.     -   2. Comparator flower color is black with yellow stripes, while         the new variety has burgundy flowers with yellow stripes.     -   3. Plants of the comparator variety are taller than plants of         the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DAMORFIEST’ grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical mature flower of ‘DAMORFIEST’ during Spring. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting in a 20 cm pot. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DAMORFIEST’ plants grown in greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April of 2015. The plants were approximately 90 days from a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. during the days, 17° C. to 23° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia hybrida ‘DAMORFIEST’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—10-14 days at approximately 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. Colored tan and white, not             accurately measured with RHS chart. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Mounded.         -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.         -   Height.—To top of flowers: About 20 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 55 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very well branched.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 26 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—8.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:             Cylindrical Diameter: About 0.4 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green             144 A Texture: Pubescent Strength: Good.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Quantity: Approximately 28 per             branch. Average Length: 4.0 cm. Average Width: 2.0 cm. Shape             of blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Acute Margin: Entire             Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of bottom surface:             Velvety Pubescence: Pubescent Color: Young foliage upper             side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A Young foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 146 B Mature foliage upper side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147 A Mature foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147 B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color             upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 B Venation color under             side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 C Petiole: Length: About 0.5 cm             Diameter: About 0.3 cm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 147 B             Texture: Velvety. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer, and Autumn in             Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 30 days.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single             flower, salverform shape, erect habit.         -   Rate of flower opening.—2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—3 to 6 days.         -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 70.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular Length: About 4.5cm Diameter: About 0.8             cm Color: RHS Yellow-green N 144 A with stripes             Greyed-Purple 187 B.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm Length: About 2.6 cm             Flower tube diameter at distal end: About 1.1 cm. Flower             tube diameter at proximal end: About 0.3 cm.         -   Flower.—Lobing: Weak. Upper Petal Surface Flower Venation:             Very weakly conspicuous. Inner Corolla Tube Venation: Very             weakly conspicuous. Flower Corolla undulation at side view:             Very weak.         -   Petals.—Length from throat: About 2.2 cm Width: About 2.8 cm             Quantity: 5 Texture: Velvety Apex: Blunt Slightly cuspidate.             Margin: Entire.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Black 203 B with 5             Stripes, Yellow 9 B. Lower surface: RHS Greyed-Purple 187B             with 5 Stripes, Yellow-green N144 B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Upper half of corolla lobes near Greyed-Purple             187A. Lobe base (near throat) near Black 203B, occasionally             lightly streaked Greyed-Purple N187C. Sides of upper corolla             (along the edge of the 187A coloration) near Purple N77A,             fading out to Red-Purple N66B and 72C, both colors present             individually in a moderately thick mottled stripe. Actual             mid-vein colored Green 143C, surrounded by a significant             stripe (about 4 to 5 mm on each side of vein) colored near             Yellow 7B. Lower surface: RHS Greyed-Purple 187B with 5             Stripes Yellow 7 D. Flower throat (inside): RHS Black 203 B             with 5 Stripes along midveins, Yellow 9 B. Flower throat,             vein: RHS Yellow-Green 153 A. Flower tube (outside): RHS             Greyed-Purple 187B with 5 Stripes along midveins,             Yellow-Green 153 C. Flower tube, vein: RHS Yellow-Green             154 A. Calyx/Sepals: Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear             Length: About 1.8 cm Width: About 0.3 cm Apex: Rounded Base:             Cuneate Margin: Entire Texture: Velvety Color: Upper             Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A Lower Surface: RHS             Yellow-Green 146 B.         -   Peduncle.—Not present.         -   Pedicel.—Length: About 2.0 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm.             Color: RHS Yellow-Green 146 B Orientation: 45 degrees.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: About 2 cm.         -   Anthers.—Length: About 0.1 cm Shape: Rounded Color: RHS             Yellow 4 D Pollen: Color: RHS Blue-Green 115 D Quantity:             Plenty.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: About 2.0 cm Style: Length: About             1.7 cm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145 C Stigma: Shape: Rounded             Color: RHS Green 145 C Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 60 Brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5             mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Petunia             have been observed. Typical well known diseases include:             Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and             Rhizoctonia species. Typical well known pests include: Leaf             miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly caterpillars.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates a range between 5° C. to             40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘DAMORFIEST’ as herein illustrated and described. 